Assessing Biomass Pellets for Cold Storage and Warehousing

Cold-storage sites primarily manage refrigeration loads, while any hot-water or space-heating needs vary by facility and process. Biomass pellets may be assessed for a separate thermal load only if the boiler and fuel-handling equipment are suitable. First identify the load, operating schedule, current fuel use and storage constraints.

Where Cold Storage Facilities Use Heat

• Defrost: Review the existing refrigeration and defrost design before considering any separate heat source.
• Packhouse operations: Identify any curing, drying or hot-water processes and their measured heat demand.
• Worker areas: Estimate heating needs from the site's occupied space and operating schedule.
• Ripening or conditioning rooms: Confirm the required control range and process design with the equipment supplier.

Compare Current Thermal Loads

A site's current heating equipment and fuel costs should be established from its own invoices and operating records. Compare alternatives using delivered prices, measured consumption and equipment efficiency; do not assume a generic saving.

Practical Implementation

Equipment sizing, installation scope, civil work and fuel demand depend on the measured thermal load and the site's design. Obtain a system proposal from a qualified equipment supplier and review it against the facility's safety and operational requirements.

Size the Heat Before Choosing the Fuel

Thermal demand may vary by season and process. Record each heat use, its operating months, temperature requirements and measured load before discussing fuel or equipment.

Three equipment patterns

• Hot-air system: review the heat-exchanger design, combustion-gas separation, temperature controls and product-contact requirements with the equipment supplier.
• Hot-water system: assess the required water temperature, circulation system and compatibility of existing piping with a qualified engineer.
• Steam system: consider only where the facility has a defined steam load and the proposed boiler meets the process and site requirements.

What Biomass Cannot Do Here

A biomass fuel change does not replace electricity used by electrically driven refrigeration equipment. Identify any separate thermal load and compare the current delivered cost with a proposed system using measured consumption and efficiency. Include equipment, storage, handling, maintenance and fuel costs; do not assume the comparison will produce a saving.

Operating Practicalities

1. Start-up and load response. Ask the equipment supplier how the proposed system handles the site's start-up and demand profile.
2. Hopper capacity. Ask for usable capacity and the expected refill interval based on the site's measured consumption.
3. Ventilation and flue. Have a qualified designer specify safe equipment location, combustion air and flue arrangements for the facility.
4. Dry storage. Protect pellets from moisture and condensation, and store them off the floor. Our pellet storage and handling guide covers the details.

Questions Buyers Typically Ask

• Typical buyer question: can I buy only for the curing season? Estimate consumption and storage from measured demand; BBI's minimum order is 25 MT, so confirm that quantity fits the site's plan.
• Typical buyer question: will pellets affect stored produce? The system design and combustion-gas separation must be reviewed by the equipment supplier and the facility's quality team.
• Typical buyer question: should the existing burner stay? Ask the facility's engineering team whether backup capacity is required for its operations.

Related Reading

Facilities with processing lines attached to the cold chain will find overlapping steam questions in biomass pellets for food processing. If diesel or furnace oil is your current heat source, biomass pellets versus furnace oil and LNG sets out the comparison points to test with your own numbers.

Request the batch lab report and confirm product specifications, availability and delivery terms before making an equipment decision.

BBI's minimum order quantity is 25 MT. Estimate the site's consumption and storage needs before ordering. Contact BBI to discuss product specifications and availability.